Caught drink-driving twice in two days

A Northland woman who was caught drink-driving twice in two days - each time while more than three times over the legal alcohol limit - has been disqualified from driving indefinitely.

Lynette Ann COTTER, 47, unemployed, appeared in Kaikohe District Court for sentencing on two charges of driving with excess breath alcohol.

Cotter was stopped by police on State Highway One near Marton, north of Palmerston North, at 6.15pm on January 3, last year.

She was stopped after members of the public reported her vehicle being driven erratically and she admitted to police that she had been drinking vodka and orange from a cask while driving.

Cotter failed a breath screening test and was unable to complete an evidential breath test so was given a blood test. She had a level of 267 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, more than three times the 80mg limit

Cotter was stopped again by police at 4.15pm on January 4 on State Highway One at Warkworth, again because members of the public had reported her erratic driving.

A breath test showed she had a level of 1262 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, more than three times the 400mcg limit.

In explanation she told police she wanted to get home.

Cotter was sentenced to three months' home detention and disqualified from driving indefinitely.

Northland has some of the highest rates of drink-driving in the country, particularly repeat offenders, and the Northern Advocate is publishing its "name and shame" list of all people convicted of drink driving offences in the region. Also sentenced in Northland's courts recently were: